Bianchi Road Bikes

[AngryScientist]

For as long as I have admired road bicycles, i have admired Bianchi. My first real road bike was an aluminum bianchi, simply out of name recognition.

despite all of this, i know very little about the company, other than the relatively current stuff.

what were the nice ones, the good steel bikes of the past. i'm in no hurry, but i have a very real lust for a celeste classic steel bike, ideally built up as a fixed gear, classy ride.

what is it i should be keeping my eye out for?

[tiretrax]

They made a lot of high end bikes with Columbus tubing in the mid-80's. Celeste and Campy, of course. I don't remember the models - I could only afford a midline model that was maroon and made with Ishiwata tubing and a suntour drivetrain. There were a lot of cool frames hanging from the rafters of the bike shop. It was those that really gave me lust. Colnago, Pinarello, Ciocc, DeRosa, etc.

I bet you could find a catalogue if you searched for it. I would also look for old bike magazine reviews. You may have to go to a local library for those or to the LBS.

[spacemen3]

The Reparto Corse used to be the model to have. They also made plenty of limited editions like the Specialissima, Centenario, C4, etc. This guy has quite the collection: http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/my_bianchi/

[illdthedj]

haha this thread is close to my heart!


it was a celeste lugged steel bianchi that got my wife into cycling with me.
just so happens celeste is her favorite color (before even being aware of bianchi)...she collects this vintage glassware... "Fenton Hobnail in aqua", that happens to an exact color match to bianchi's celeste.

anywho she had no interest whatsoever in going on rides with me...until i showed her a celeste bianchi campione de italia on ebay haha.

she's since been on two metric centuries with me!
slightly unfortunately, the frame is just slightly too long in the top tube...and finding a slightly shorter top tube has proven difficult.

i really really wish i owned a nice celeste lugged steel bianchi myself.
however i am currently at my max bike quota (as per my wife) haha


anywho here is a link to older bianchi catologs, you can discern the top of the line from the budget bikes:

http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/my_bianchi/catalogs.htm

[oliver1850]

Books could be written, and probably have. What era are you interested in? They've had a full line of bikes for a long time. Occasionally a 65 year old one with a Campagnolo Cambio Corsa dual rod derailleur will turn up on ebay.

In 1995, the road line looked like this:

Premio: Lugged DB Deda cromo with 300 Exage DT
Trofeo: Lugged DB Deda cromo with Stratos DT
Alfana: Lugged DB Deda cromo with RSX STI
Campione d'Italia: Lugged DB Deda cromo with Veloce Ergo
Virata: Tange Prestige/Carbon tubes with RSX STI
Veloce: Lugged Deda DB cromo with Veloce Ergo
TSX: Lugged TSX with Chorus Ergo
EL International: Lugged EL-OS with Ultegra STI
Genius: Tigged Genius with Record Ergo
110th Aniversary: Titanium with Record Ergo

Here's my New Success equipped EL-OS with my friend's Chorus 11 Infinito on a ride last December.

[velomateo]

The Reparto Corse used to be the model to have. They also made plenty of limited editions like the Specialissima, Centenario, C4, etc. This guy has quite the collection: http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/my_bianchi/

Actually at lot models fall under the "Reparto Corse" unbrella. Reparto Corse was/is the Bianchi racing department, so these were their top tear models.

[RedRider]

Bianchi has one of the oldest and greatest stories in cycling and they've done a poor job of telling it in recent years. The book Italian Racing Bicycles, by Guido Rubino, gives a brief but detailed history.
I have heard good things about their latest road models...

[christian]

Campione d'Italia: Lugged DB Deda cromo with Veloce ErgoOne of these was my first real serious bike. If anyone here ever comes across one in 57cm, let me know. My old one is definitely kicking around Chicago somewhere, so keep your eye out, folks.

[fiamme red]

A collector I know owns a 1987 replica of the Argentin X4. Really stunning bike, took my breath away.

http://veloaficionado.com/the-bianchi-x4-code/
http://veloaficionado.com/1987-bianchi-columbus-slx-campagnolo-c-record/

[rallizes]

Circa 1986-87.

[cmg]

i rememnber lusting after a super leggara and never if ever seeing one on eBay. Perfection, horiz top tube, horizontal stem, fist full of seat post. bars with horizontal drops.

[AngryScientist]

some sweet bikes here.

i am going to do some reading on these, for sure. if you just do an ebay or CL search for "bianchi" the amount of obvious junk overwhelms me, and its hard to sort what i might actually be looking for.

[jr59]

Mine's not as nice as those posted, but the ELOS sure does ride well!

[cmg]

Mine's not as nice as those posted, but the ELOS sure does ride well!

what model is it? i thought the super leggara or Specialissima was built out of EL-OS.

[rallizes]

oh, re:my pista, above.

I'm doing it wrong. Would post a road bike if I had one.:)

Carry on!

[54ny77]

ditto!

unobtainable at the time for me.

boy were those swank.

i rememnber lusting after a super leggara and never if ever seeing one on eBay. Perfection, horiz top tube, horizontal stem, fist full of seat post. bars with horizontal drops.

[jr59]

what model is it? i thought the super leggara or Specialissima was built out of EL-OS.


It's an early 90's reparto corse. No model is named on the frame in these years. A very good friend has one she bought new in 91. Just the columbus tubing sticker. And the bianchi decal set.

I don't know what name it was called, and neither does my friend who used to own the bike shop where she got hers.

[FlashUNC]

Let's not forget the Mega Pro XL.

http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/2010/02/01/2/pantani_1998_mu_bianchi_colors_600.jpg

Correct me if I'm wrong though, but Bianchi USA =/= Bianchi Europe these days?

There's some, but not all, model overlap, correct?

I had a chrome Pista for a while when I was track racing in Atlanta. Great bike.

[oliver1850]

It's an early 90's reparto corse. No model is named on the frame in these years. A very good friend has one she bought new in 91. Just the columbus tubing sticker. And the bianchi decal set.

I don't know what name it was called, and neither does my friend who used to own the bike shop where she got hers.

Pretty sure they were just called Bianchi EL.

[retrofit]

This was my 1980 Super Corsa (http://velospace.org/node/23946) built with Campy Super Record. Ended up selling the Specialissima frameset a couple of years ago as it was too big.

http://cdn.velospace.org/files/Super_Corsa_1.jpg

[zmudshark]

Nicest one I ever saw in person was hanging with dozens of other cool steel in my friend's shed. Sorry I don't have better pictures.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-do0YmxnTs88/TRu6pFTF4gI/AAAAAAAAE9s/s31AdjtU8UI/s640/P4010075.JPG

[Anarchist]

i rememnber lusting after a super leggara and never if ever seeing one on eBay. Perfection, horiz top tube, horizontal stem, fist full of seat post. bars with horizontal drops.

I had one of those for many years. It was my favourite, my go to bike.

Sadly it fell prey to a mis-guided Honda Accord with a blue haired harridan behind the wheel.

Down tube, top tube, both fork blades, steer tube ..... I took the frame to a metal recycler and came very close to crying.

[stien]

This was my 1980 Super Corsa (http://velospace.org/node/23946) built with Campy Super Record. Ended up selling the Specialissima frameset a couple of years ago as it was too big.

http://cdn.velospace.org/files/Super_Corsa_1.jpg

I was waiting for you to post yours first :D

Another one that was too big. Sad.

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu321/cleverbastid/1981%20Bianchi/IMG_1692.jpg (http://s660.photobucket.com/user/cleverbastid/media/1981%20Bianchi/IMG_1692.jpg.html)

[wc1934]

Marco P wins both the Giro and the tour on this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv38M5zCd9E

[bikemoore]

I had a lugged steel Columbus Thron model and loved that bike. It deteriorated living and riding through wet English winters and I unfortunately sold it for a song. I would look for the model just above the Thron: TSX Ultralight. Same build and geometry as my Thron, but with Columbus TSX tubeset. I regard my old Bianchi one of the best riding bikes I've ever been on. There was just something about it that felt right.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[kenmetzger]

Correct me if I'm wrong though, but Bianchi USA =/= Bianchi Europe these days?

There's some, but not all, model overlap, correct?


They are still owned by the same company, but the USA line is different as they view the market being different. If you beg a Bianchi dealer, then they can probably get you something from the Europe line. Most of the carbon and aluminum road bikes are the same, but they do more mountain bikes and not so much steel for Europe. Bianchi out of Asia is apparently a whole other story.

You can still get the classic look (except vertiacally dropouts).. This is their Coppi remake: http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/road/steel/dolomiti/

[wildboar]

.

[sante pollastri]

.


max,beautiful!

[sante pollastri]

Marco:hello:

[Anarchist]

That EV2 is beautiful.

Always liked those, never had one. Would gladly ride one now if I could find one that was NOS or pristine.

Very light frame so would be nervous with a used one, but beautiful.

[sante pollastri]

Fausto:banana:

[pinkshogun]

a while back i sold this to a forumite-it really made me re-take notice of the subtlties of chrome accents

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=134181&highlight=1981+bianchi

[Fatty]

What about this one, S9 Ti Matta.

This has to be newer but I was able to find very little information on the frame.


http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/bik/4402735505.html

[weisan]

A fairly recent acquisition - Strada LX, lugged steel, probably from the 80s, came as a complete bike with all its original components $100 - i took it apart for an experimental 650b conversion. Sadly, it's not celeste coz I really dig that color, and it's further down the totem pole but it does ride rather nicely.

http://alicehui.com/pic/strada%20lx.jpg

[Climb01742]

that ev2 is beautiful.

Always liked those, never had one. Would gladly ride one now if i could find one that was nos or pristine.

Very light frame so would be nervous with a used one, but beautiful.

+1

[Dale Alan]

Wow,some beautiful bikes in this thread. I hope to own one someday.

[jimoots]

What about this one, S9 Ti Matta.

This has to be newer but I was able to find very little information on the frame.


http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/bik/4402735505.html

Yeah I saw that the other day on eBay. The frame is beautiful but the groupset and finishing kit is a bit of a 'bitsa'. Looks like the dude had the frame sitting there for a while and has just thrown what he had lying around to sell it.

There are two TI bikes that I'll buy without any thought as to what the purchase will do to my bank account - the S9 Matta and a nice Cyrene.

You're right, not a whole lot of info about these bikes around. From my research they go back somewhere in the mid 00's and finished production around 2010.

Some of the Mattas came with carbon seatstays, others all titanium. I've seen '06 models that had carbon stays, and others that were all titanium. After '08 all I've seen was all titanium. And I don't know what they did pre-'06.

When they were new, they were retailing right at the top end of the market, so not a heap are around. I've seen records of prices ranging from US$7,500 to US$10,0000 with record and eurus wheels.

But yes, all that aside. A beautiful bike, and if anyone sees one in 55-56, let me know!

2006 all ti

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IRKD929sN6k/T0Rz61UD_VI/AAAAAAAAAX8/dtdNkdqSxrQ/s1600/S9-00.JPG

No idea on date

http://25.media.tumblr.com/9d087e3ef282240e88c514ab704f2336/tumblr_mnz55ztSAK1rdeo1uo1_1280.jpg

[choke]

Hmmm....how did I miss this thread?

This is a '96 "Cross Project USA". They were only sold for two years and only available as a frameset. It's Reparto Corse built out of Zero Uno and is fully lugged construction.

http://cycle.ciocctoo.com/bcp1.JPG

http://cycle.ciocctoo.com/bcp2.JPG

[bobswire]

This one is not a bad deal at all and comes with original components (Shimano 600 Aero). Listed as A 1988 model Formula Columbus Limited II which would have put the frame in the middle of the pack. Not a collectible but all and all a fine riding frame that looks to need very little bit TLC and new tires.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360895006318?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://i60.tinypic.com/2j27rqe.jpg

[Anarchist]

Hmmm....how did I miss this thread?

This is a '96 "Cross Project USA". They were only sold for two years and only available as a frameset. It's Reparto Corse built out of Zero Uno and is fully lugged construction.



Beautiful!

[tuscanyswe]

Theres tons of blanchis for sale here tho mostly lesser models. The s9 matta ofc not common but not crazy rare either. I saw one in my size for sale just a few weeks ago, with the carbon rear, think that one was newer than 06 atleast according to the ad. If i c a 56 i will let you know.

That one cmg posted is pretty damn nice!

[jimoots]

Theres tons of blanchis for sale here tho mostly lesser models. The s9 matta ofc not common but not crazy rare either. I saw one in my size for sale just a few weeks ago, with the carbon rear, think that one was newer than 06 atleast according to the ad. If i c a 56 i will let you know.

That one cmg posted is pretty damn nice!

Yeah if you come across something do let me know. Definitely prefer the all-ti version but would consider a carbon stay-ed one if it came up for the right kinda money. Thanks man.

[AgilisMerlin]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobianchi /

Bianchi, founded by Edoardo Bianchi in 1885 and now remembered primarily as a bicycle manufacturer, was also active in passenger car manufacturer from 1899. Bianchis were in general high-end luxury cars, made with high attention to detail. The company's factory in Abruzzi was destroyed by bombing during World War II. Edoardo Bianchi himself died in 1946 in a car accident, and the ownership of the firm passed to his son, Giuseppe. Even though a new, modern facility was constructed in Desio after the war, economic conditions forced Giuseppe not to resume passenger car production, but rather to focus on bicycles, motorcycles and commercial vehicles.[1][2][3] Bianchi bicycles are still manufactured.
Bianchi's general manager, Ferruccio Quintavalle, wanted to take advantage of the company's extensive experience in manufacturing cars and ordered the preparation of studies and prototypes of possible new models. Soon it became apparent that resuming passenger car production would not be feasible without a help of stronger partner. Therefore, Bianchi turned to large industrial groups Fiat and Pirelli with a proposal to form a new company to produce automobiles. Thus, the Autobianchi company was born, with the agreement signed by the three parties on 11 January 1955 and share capital of 3 million lira, 33% of which belonged to the Bianchi family. A new, modern, purpose-built plant for the production of Autobianchi cars was erected on an area of 140,000 square metres in Desio.[2][3]
Each of the partners had a clearly defined role and interest in the venture. Fiat was to provide the technical base and components for the assembly of the cars. It was seeking to capture the premium niche of the small car market, at that time occupied by coachbuilders such as Moretti and Vignale, who were building their models on Fiat chassis. Pirelli, which was to supply tires for the cars, sought to expand their OEM market share. Bianchi, was assigned the duties of preparing the bodies and assembling complete vehicles; a step towards their desired return to full passenger car production.

vAutobianchi (Italian pronunciation: [autoˈbjaŋki]) was an Italian automobile manufacturer, created jointly by Bianchi, Pirelli and Fiat in 1955. Autobianchi produced only a handful of models during its lifetime, which were almost exclusively small cars, with the biggest being the short-lived Autobianchi A111, a small family car. Autobianchis were priced higher than Fiat models of similar size and the brand was used by Fiat to test new and innovative concepts which later found their way into mainstream Fiat vehicles; these concepts included fibreglass bodies and front-wheel drive.
The most famous Autobianchi models include the A112 released in 1969, a small hatchback very popular in Italy for racing, and which ceased production in 1986; as well as the Y10, which was the first car to use Fiat's new FIRE (Fully Integrated Robotised Engine). The Primula was the car with which Fiat introduced the particular front-wheel drive arrangement of engine, transmission and differential (final drive) that has become prevalent in its cars today. This car competed with the Innocenti-built Mini, which was the inspiration for the drivetrain layout.
Autobianchi was bought by the Fiat group and integrated into the operations of Lancia. The marque survived in Italy until the end of the Y10's production in 1995, but became extinct elsewhere when the model was rebranded as a Lancia in 1989.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Bianchina1.jpg/715px-Bianchina1.jpg

File:Autobianchi A112 V2 2.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Autobianchi_A112_V2_2.JPG/800px-Autobianchi_A112_V2_2.JPG

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobianchi_Y10

The Autobianchi Y10 is a 'designer' city car and economy car manufactured from 1985 to 1995 and marketed under the Lancia brand in most export markets (as Lancia Y10). The car was manufactured at the Fiat´s Autobianchi plant in Desio, Milan until 1992 and after that in Arese, near Alfa Romeo plants. It offered a very high level of trim for its market segment. The Y10 featured a rear beam suspension design (called Omega) that was subsequently fitted to the facelifted Fiat Panda. Despite its short length, the Y10 boasted a drag coefficient of just 0.31.
It sold rather well,[citation needed] for its unique style, luxurious trim and the continuously variable transmission that equipped certain versions. Its excellent aerodynamics, characterized by very clean lines and a Kammback, also provided great fuel economy. Sales in the United Kingdom were not so strong, though it remained on sale until Lancia's withdrawal from the British market (and all other right-hand drive markets) in 1994. / http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Autobianchi_Y10_Roma.jpg/800px-Autobianchi_Y10_Roma.jpg

Bianchi bicycles are traditionally painted Celeste (pronounced che-les-te in Italian, Se-lest in English), a turquoise also known as Bianchi Green, (and sometimes, incorrectly Tiffany Blue, a copyrighted colour). Contradictory myths say Celeste is the colour of the Milan sky, the eye colour of a former queen of Italy for whom Edoardo Bianchi made a bicycle (the crowned eagle of the company logo is an adaptation of the former royal crest) and that it was a mixture of surplus military paint. The shade has changed over the years, sometimes more blue, then more green.

/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bianchi_Bicycles

bianchi's military involvement in the war / http://bsamuseum.wordpress.com/1911-bianchi-military-folding-bicycle/

http://bsamuseum.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/bianchi_07.jpg?w=950

http://bsamuseum.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/bersaglieri_3.jpg?w=950

http://bsamuseum.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/bianchi_10.jpg?w=950

http://bsamuseum.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/1914_bianchi_5.jpg?w=950

http://bsamuseum.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/1914_bianchi_6.jpg?w=950

http://bsamuseum.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/1876_bersaglieri.jpg?w=950

http://bsamuseum.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/10_bianchi_folding_bicycle.jpg?w=950

http://bsamuseum.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/20_bianchi_folding_bicycle.jpg?w=950

http://histclo.com/imagef/date/2013/03/gs-milan01s.jpg

Figure 1.--Here Italian partisans that had been fighting with the U.S. 5th Army march surrendered German troops through Milan *May 6, 1945). It was first esignated 'Secret', perhaps because of the involvement of partusans.Source: U.S. Army 196th Signal Photo Co. .

World War II Italian Campaign: German Surrender (May 2, 1945)

The first great Germn surrender occurred in northern Italy. The Allies in a biterly fought 3-month campaign during the Spring of 1945 drove across the Po Valley. As German resistance crumbled, the Allies made spectacular advances. Columns of German soldiers were desperately trying to reach the Reich. Partisans captured and executed Mussolini as he was trying to flee with the Germans (April 28). The first surrender came in Italy without authorization. SS General Karl Wolff had been engaged in prolonged and unauthorised negotiations with the Allies. Wolff and the Commander-in-Chief of the German Army Group C/10th Army, General Heinrich von Vietinghoff on their own authority signed the terms of the surrender at Caserta (April 29). General W. D. Morgan, representing Supreme Mediterranean Commander [Harold] Alexander, signed for the Allies. The ever suspicious Stalin saw this as the beginning of a separate Allied peace with the NAZIs. Hitler as the Red Army troops neared his Berlin bunker, finally committed suiside (April 30). With Hitler's death, the way was clear for NAZI Germany to finally surrender. Hitler designated his successors. Karl Dönitz as the new Reichspräsident ("President of Germany") and Joseph Goebbels as the new Reichskanzler (Chancellor of Germany). Goebbels and his wife, however, committed suicide after killing their children (May 1). This left it to Dönitz to arrange the surrender of the Third Reich. The two German commanders as already planned ordered German armed forces in Italy to cease hostilities (May 1). The surrender document provided that all German forces in Italy to surrender unconditionally to the Allies (May 2). On that same day, the commander of the German Army Group G north of Italy began communicating with Major General Jacob Devers. The surrender of Army Group G was made effective beginning (May 6). Some 0.5 million German troops along with some Italian Fascists were taken into custody. Most were held through 1946, some even longer. The arrangements were negotiated by Allied commnders. The Italians now on the Allied side were given respobsibility for the logistics of taking the Germans into custody and maintaing the camps for their internment. [Niglia, p. 14.] Within a few days the arrangement was refined. The Allied Commission on Italy proposed to the Italian government in an arrangement to place captured German prisoners under their disposal to work on reconstruction projects (May 14). The prisoners would remain under the authority of the United States and the United Kingdom who would supply their shelter and provisions. Guarding the prisoners was to be the responsibility of the Italian authorities, who would supervise all work projects.
Allied Northern Offensive

The Allies in a biterly fought 3-month campaign during the Spring of 1945 drove across the Po Valley. As German resistance crumbled, the Allies made spectacular advances.
Italian Resistance

The Itlalian Resistance movement was initially composed of disprgamizee, small independent units. They formed spontaneously formed by members of political parties outlawed by Musolini's Fascist regime. There was some organization, but no significant armed action yntil the German invasion and Allied invasions (September 1943). Switching sides provided a bried opportunity to obtain arms before the Germans interned the Italian Army. At this point the Resistance was joind by mostly former officers of the Royal Army loyal to the monarchy. Subsequently the Comitato di Liberazione Nazionale (Committee of National Liberation, CNL) was formed the Italian Communist Party, the Italian Socialist Party, the Partito d'Azione (a republican "liberal socialist" party), Democrazia Cristiana and other minor parties. King Victor Emmanuel III's ministers and the Allies attempted tpo control the CNL, but the Communists and some degree the Socialists had their own agenda and were subject to control by Moscow. As the fighting moved north, The Comitato di Liberazione Nazionale Alta Italia (CLNAI or National Liberation Committee for Northern Italy, CLNAI) was setup by partisans behind German lines and enjoyed wide-spread support.
Insurection (April 25)

The Allies renewed their northern offensive and the front cracked wide open and the cities of the north began to be liberated. The Italian Co-Belligerent Army and the Polish II Corps under Allied command liberated Bologna (April 21). Parma and Reggio Emilia were liberated (April 24). It is at this point that the CNL called for a general insurrection against the retreating Germans (April 25). Turin and Milan were thus liberated (April 25). The CNL caught over 14,000 German and Fascist troops in Genoa (April 26 and 27). General Meinhold in Genoa surrendered to the CLN.
German Columns

Columns of German soldiers were desperately trying to reach the borders of the Reich. Most realized that surrender was inevitable, but reasoned that hey were better off surrendering closer to home. The Germans were defeated, but still well armed. Thus mny partisan bans did not want to take them on as they were leaving Italy. Some partisans units wiorked out adeal with the Germans. The Germans could pass unharmed, but even Italians with them would hve to be turned over.
Mussolini Executed (April 27-28)

Genoa fell to the Allies (April 27). Mussolini was forced on the run. He hope to reach neutral Switzerland by hiding in one of the retreating German columns. Partisan bans bagan setting up roadblocks rather than attacking the Germans. They stopped many of the German columns to make sure that Itlalian Fascists did not escape by getting out of Italy with the Germans. It was in one of these convoys that a partisan group found Mussolini and his mistress as well as some associaye trying to flee with the Germans (April 27). They took him from the Germans who did not resist and shot him the next day (april 28). The partisans hanged him up-side-down at a gas station together with his mistress, Clara Petacci. Their bodies displayed for the Milanese crowds to deride and curse.
Hitler Shoots Himself (April 30)

Hitler in his Berlin bunker learned of this and was apauled. He resolved not to let this happen to him. Two days later with Red rmy units approacjing the Chancellery an Führer Bunker, he and Eva Braun killed themselves. Aides burned their body. Hitler as the Red Army troops neared his Berlin bunker, finally committed suiside (April 30). With Hitler's death, the way was clear for NAZI Germany to finally surrender. Hitler designated his successors. Notably Hitler did not want another Führer. He separated the two offices he had combined. He designated Admiral Karl Dönitz as the new Reichspräsident ("President of Germany") and Joseph Goebbels as the new Reichskanzler (Chancellor of Germany). Goebbels and his wife, however, committed suicide after killing their children (May 1). Admiral Karl Dönitz commanded the Kriegsmarine U-Boat fleet which came very close to victory in the North Atlantic. He is widely credited with conceiving the tactics that almost defeated the Allies. Less commonly mentioned is his inflexibility. Unlike the Allies he did not adapt to Allied counter measures. The tactics Dönietz employed at the start of the War were the same he used later when the U-boats were decisively defeated (1943). Because of the failure of the German surface fleet and the fact Dönitz was an ardent NAZI, Hitler appointed him as overall naval commander. Dönitz set up his new government at Flensburg near the Danish border.
Surrender (May 2)

The first great German surrender occurred in northern Italy and without authorization. SS General Karl Wolff had been engaged in prolonged and unauthorised negotiations with the Allies. Wolff and the Commander-in-Chief of the German 10th Army, General Heinrich von Vietinghoff on their own authority signed the terms of the surrender at Caserta (April 29). General W. D. Morgan, representing Supreme Mediterranean Commander [Harold] Alexander, signed for the Allies. The ever suspicious Stalin saw this as the beginning of a separate Allied peace with the NAZIs. . This left it to Dönitz to arrange the surrender of the Third Reich. The two German commanders as already planned ordered German armed forces in Italy to cease hostilities (May 1). The surrender document provided that all German forces in Italy to surrender unconditionally to the Allies (May 2). On that same day, the commander of the German Army Group G north of Italy began communicating with Major General Jacob Devers. The surrender of Army Group G was made effective beginning (May 6).
Overall Surrender (May 7)

The Wehrmacht by April 1945 was shatered and no longer able to offer effective resistance to the Allies. The Western Allies raced through Germany from the west during April 1945 as the Soviet Red Army surrounded Berlin. American and Soviet forces made the long anticipated link-up at the Elbe River on April 25. The Red Army fought a massive engagement to take Berlin. Hitler insisted that the SS and Wehrmacht forces in the city, reinforced by the Volkstrum (Hitler Youth boys and older men) fight so that he might live a few more days. As Red Army soldiers approached his bunker, Hitler shot himself and named Admiral Karl Doenietz as the new Führer. The last raid of the strategic bombing campaign took place on April 25 when the Skoda armament plant at Pilsen, Czechoslovakia were bombed. The American Air Corps began shifting to mercy missions. Flights were dispatched to feed civilians in northern Italy and the Netherlands who were near starvation. Priority was also given to evacuting prisonors of war (POWs). Doenitz ordered General Alfred Jodl to General Eisenhower' Headquarters--Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF) detachment in Rheims to seek terms to end the fighting. Jodl signed the unconditional surrender of German forces on allfronts At 2:41 a.m. on May 7, which was to take effect on May 8 at 11:01 p.m. Thus NAZI Germany surrendered unconditionally, as President Roosevelt had insisted. Celebrations ensued throught Europe--except Germany. Ther were big official celebrations. There were also smaller neighborhood celebrations. In communities throughout britain there were outdoors banquets called block parties that were family celebrations (figure 1). For many of the children it mean that daddy would soon be headed home.
German Prisoners in Italy (1945-47)

Some 0.5 million German troops along with some Italian Fascists were taken into custody. Most were held through 1946, some even longer. The arrangements were negotiated by Allied commnders. The Italians now on the Allied side were given respobsibility for the logistics of taking the Germans into custody and maintaing the camps for their internment. [Niglia, p. 14.} Within a few days the arrangement was refined. The Allied Commission on Italy proposed to the Italian government in an arrangement to place captured German prisoners under their disposal to work on reconstruction projects (May 14). The prisoners would remain under the authority of the United States and the United Kingdom who would supply their shelter and provisions. Guarding the prisoners was to be the responsibility of the Italian authorities, who would supervise all work projects.
Sources

Niglia, Federico. "A neglected story German prisoners of war in Italy (1945-1947)", Journal of Military and Strategic Studies Vo. 14, issue 1 (Fall 2011), pp.1-14.

http://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/camp/eur/ita/w2i-gs.html

/ http://windmillwheels.co.uk/blog/bianchi-celeste/

So what about celeste? Well, which story would you like? We can start with the man himself Edoardo Bianchi (Bianchi means white in Italian). In 1885 he got his lucky break when Queen Margherita (whome yes, the pizza is named after, the colours represeting the Italian flag), asked if Bianchi could build her a version of his newly created safety bicycle with a smaller front wheel and a crystal chain cover so that she could break into the local roady scene. It is thought by some that this early encounter inspired Mr White to paint his bikes to match the eye colour of the pizza loving queen. However inspiring this story may be, unfortunately records show that she did infact have brown eyes and no one wants a brown Bianchi? Although i’m sure they will make one on request?

There is a more practical explanation for the Italian racing green. Following the Second World War the Italian government found that they needed to sell off some of the surplus military paint they had stockpiled. The rumour is that Bianchi bought a vast quantity of this paint, mixed it with white and blue and came up with celeste. There is one problem with this story, Bianchi bikes were celeste before the Second World War!

In Milan the home of Bianchi you may well here the Milanese sky inspired the colour, this may be closer to the truth and at least helps draw a more concrete conclusion. Every story you hear helps give the colour further depth and richness. There is no doubt the colour belongs to Bianchi and with it so do all the myths and legends associated to it. Celeste is Bianchi and ...

[El Chaba]

This is a great tribute thread to one of the most storied builders in the sport. It's quite sad that the Reparto Corsa is closed. I had a "Pantani" model as well and have great memories of putting it to the test in Spain....

[sante pollastri]

this morning ride

[El Chaba]

this morning ride

Thanks for posting this bike....WAY over the top cool.....increíblemente hermoso....

[sante pollastri]

Thanks for posting this bike....WAY over the top cool.....increíblemente hermoso....

many thanks,I'm happy you like it.

[thwart]

If you can score a Boron XL, do it.

This reminds me that I would have a couple more additions to the 'wish you still had it' thread… :(